Creation Of Business Ventures Research Articles

Influence of Entrepreneurship Education on Students’ Intention to Self-Employment: A Case of Open University of Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to assess the relevance of entrepreneurial education and students’ entrepreneurial intentions at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). Despite the fact that entrepreneurship education has been given much attention recently, the question remains as to how it has been of help to students at OUT towards self-employment and business venture creation. The study employed theory of planned behavior by Ajzen and theory of entrepreneurial intent by Shapero and Sokol. A mixed method approach was employed using linear regression and thematic analysis. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students during face-to-face sessions and during preparation for annual exams in their regional centers. The qualitative data were collected using focus group discussions. Findings revealed a positive relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions. The implication is that entrepreneurship education at OUT confirms the need to incorporate entrepreneurship course to all programmes offered at the university and as a suggestion to entire education system in the country.

Access to finance and women entrepreneurship development in the Kigezi subregion, Uganda

ABSTRACT Women entrepreneurs are challenged by access to finance in their quest to start any entrepreneurial activity. Global business failures have not spared women entrepreneurs; hence, this study is very significant, as it may direct the path to new business venture creation by women entrepreneurs. The provision of financial support to a business enterprise does not guarantee its success or growth. The study explored the role access to finance plays in entrepreneurship development, the strategies that stimulate women’s entrepreneurship, and the relationship between access to finance and entrepreneurship development. We used beta coefficients to quantify the effects of access to finance on entrepreneurship development. The findings revealed that women entrepreneurs find it difficult to access cheap and adequate financial services. The study recommends increased funding, development of good policies, and entrepreneurship training and education for women-owned businesses in order to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship development.

Entrepreneurial Competencies in Research Based on EntreComp Among Student Youth in Poland

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to assess the level of creativity and the ability of student youth to spot business generate, assess and develop business with ethical and sustainable thinking approach - as important part of entrepreneurial competencies crucial in the process of innovative business venture creation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was conducted in 2020 on students’ groups studying at three different universities in Poland in South-Eastern Poland. The survey with use of questionnaire was conducted according to EntreComp Framework in the area of “ideas and opportunities”. Findings: The overall results are optimistic as the youth surveyed feel innovative, curious, open and able to recognize the value of that are promising traits for their future business creation. The results show that the surveyed youth was differentiated in the competency's assessment regarding the field of study and university, study degree, gender, professional situation and place of residence. Practical Implications: Research enabled to examine entrepreneurial competencies among student youth and form recommendations for focusing in educating student youth in the area of developing that create value for others, sharing and protecting ideas, and uncovering needs and strengthening efforts in order to drive sustainable thinking. Originality/value: The originality of the research is based on the use of the EntreComp methodology, which allows to diagnose and then develop key competencies for the development of entrepreneurship according to the framework promoted by European Commission. The added value of the research is elaboration of the synthetic index ideas and opportunities, which allows a joint assessment of the individual competences included in this area.

Gender Attitudes and Business Venturing: A Case Study of Egypt and Jordan

This study investigates the relationship between individuals’ gender attitudes and the likelihood of creating new business ventures. We employ social feminist theory and institutional theory and argue that people holding egalitarian attitudes towards sex roles are more likely to be involved in entrepreneurial activities. We further posit that the facilitating effect of egalitarian attitudes is more salient for the educated, the older and females. The empirical analysis uses Egypt and Jordan as the context provides some initial evidence about the positive impact of equalitarianism on new business venture creation. The study adds to research on gendered entrepreneurship.

A qualitative study on motivators and barriers affecting entrepreneurship among Latinas

PurposeThe study aims to explore motivators and barriers in business venture creation among potential Latina entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachFocus group interviews collected data using Latinas between the ages of 20-30 who expressed interest in starting their own businesses in the near future. Interview participants were primarily first-generation college students.FindingsFindings revealed major themes based around four dimensions of cultural heritage, motivators, barriers and preferred resources. Cultural heritage and gender are both enablers and obstacles for Latinas. Frequently mentioned motivators were parental business ownership, autonomy, flexible income and self-fulfillment. The barriers include fear, lack of financial management knowledge, business location selection and discrimination. The preferred resources were informal education, a checklist, a toolkit, free online resources and networking with business owners and mentors.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study highlight pull factors (i.e. family business background and self-fulfillment) increasing entrepreneurial motivations among Latinas. The present study illustrates the nuanced but substantive interactions of gender and ethnicity in Latinas’ perceptions and attitudes toward new business formation.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to the literature by exploring the motivators and barriers that affect business formation among emerging Latina entrepreneurs. Moreover, past research has not explored both motivators and barriers perceived by nascent Latina entrepreneurs. Findings from this study will assist future researchers in developing materials and programs to aid female and ethnic entrepreneurship.

Factors Affecting Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for society, and the creation of business ventures is one area where sustainability is critical. We examined the factors affecting actions that are designed to foster business sustainability. These factors are related to the environment, behavior, human relations, and business activity. Based on questionnaire responses from experts, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to rank sustainable business criteria according to their importance for entrepreneurs starting sustainable businesses. The results indicate that the most important drivers of sustainable entrepreneurship are behavioral factors and business factors. Ethical principles and values, together with competitive intelligence, are crucial for undertaking actions that lead to sustainability.

Self-employment differentials among foreign-born STEM and non-STEM workers

This paper uses the American Community Survey to examine the previously overlooked fact that foreign STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates have much lower self-employment rates than their non-STEM counterparts, with an unconditional difference of 3.3 percentage points. We find empirical support for differing earnings opportunities as a partial explanation for this self-employment gap. High wages in STEM paid-employment combined with reduced earnings in self-employment make self-employment less desirable for STEM graduates. High self-employment rates among other foreign-born workers partially reflect weak paid-employment opportunities. Public policy should encourage efficient use of worker skills rather than low-value business venture creation.

Self-Employment Differentials Among Foreign-Born Stem and Non-Stem Workers

This paper uses the American Community Survey to examine the previously overlooked fact that foreign STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates have much lower self-employment rates than their non-STEM counterparts, with an unconditional difference of 3.3 percentage points. We find empirical support for differing earnings opportunities as a partial explanation for this self-employment gap. High wages in STEM paid-employment combined with reduced earnings in self-employment make self-employment less desirable for STEM graduates. High self-employment rates among other foreign-born workers partially reflect weak paid-employment opportunities. Public policy should encourage efficient use of worker skills rather than low-value business venture creation.

Opportunity creation in low-income market: Developing a community-operated business venture

During the recent years interest in inclusive business has increased. Still, research on inclusive business development is still at infancy. This study provides empirical evidence on inclusive business development of mini-grid solution for the rural African communities. This study tests how well the insights of creation theory can explain inclusive business development process which often occurs under uncertainty due to demands for developing new technology, new business model and establishing business in new market. These several uncertain elements of business development impact what kind of business strategies the entrepreneur can practice and what kind of decision making tools to use. In addition, community engagement is essential for the successful operative management of a mini-grid solution. This study advances the understanding of inclusive business development and can be used as the foundation for future work to facilitate the process of new business venture creation at the BOP particularly when d...

THE CAUSES AND DYNAMICS OF MINORITY ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTRY

This study examines the causes and dynamics in the creation of business ventures by minority nascent entrepreneurs. Minority business enterprises are an important source of job creation and innovation in the US economy, as well as economic development engines in their respective communities. However, little is understood about the unique motivations, business strategies and plans in the early stage of their venture formation. This paper utilizes the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) dataset in investigating black and Hispanic entrepreneurial entry as compared to white nascent entrepreneurs around three important dimensions: motivation, business strategy, and community resources. It is found that blacks are highly driven by a range of motivational factors while Hispanics value intergenerational inheritance and role models in business ownership. Both groups heavily focus on a niche market strategy by lowering prices, serving markets missed by others and locating close to customers. Contrary to expectation, their perceptions of community resources are not more favorable than whites. Public policy implications are discussed.

REVIEWER APPRECIATION ISSUE

As I have stated on various occasions, the JDE depends on our numerous reviewers from many countries in which the Journal has a presence. Without thorough, constructive and timely reviews from our area experts, our publication would not be possible. I am grateful to you all! To show our appreciation for the work our reviewers do, we have established a Reviewer of the Year Award. It is my pleasure to announce that the recipient of this Award for 2011 is Professor Howard Van Auken of Iowa State University. Howard has done a stellar job! I think we actually overworked him! As a token of our appreciation, Howard will receive a one-year subscription to the JDE. Thank you, Howard! The March 2012 issue includes six outstanding articles. The first article in the issue is titled Nascent Entrepreneurs and the Transition to Entrepreneurship: Why Do People Start New Businesses? by Stelios Zanakis, Maija Renko and Amanda Bullough. To answer the central question, the authors examine motivation and cognition, knowledge and experience and social support. The authors find that experienced, persistent, confident individuals, motivated mostly by non-financial outcomes, perceiving support from their social contacts and institutional environment, are likely to make the transition to a successful business. Lynn Neely and Howard Van Auken present us with An Examination of Small Firm Bootstrap Financing and Use of Debt. Bootstrap financing helps alleviate liquidity issues by providing small firms additional sources of capital when more traditional sources are not accessible. The authors find that use of shortand long-term debt capital is directly associated with the use of bootstrap financing sources. They draw implications of their findings for small firm owners, consultants and educators. CathyYang Liu examines the causes and dynamics in the creation of business ventures by minority nascent entrepreneurs. In her contribution to this issue, titled The Causes and Dynamics of Minority Entrepreneurial Entry, the author reminds us that minority business enterprises are an important source of job creation and innovation in the U.S. economy, as well as economic development engines in their respective communities. The article helps us close the gap of our understanding of the unique motivations behind these enterprises, their business strategies and their plans in the early stage of their venture formation. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship Vol. 17, No. 1 (2012) 1202001 (2 pages) © World Scientific Publishing Company DOI: 10.1142/S1084946712020013

New business formation in a rapidly growing economy: the Irish experience

The extraordinary growth of the Irish economy since the mid-1990s—the ‘Celtic Tiger’—has attracted a great deal of interest, commentary and research. Indeed, many countries look to Ireland as an economic development role model, and it has been suggested that Ireland might provide key lessons for other EU members as they seek to achieve the objectives set out in the Lisbon Agenda. Much of the discussion of Ireland’s growth has focused on its possible triggers: the long-term consequences of the late 1980s fiscal stabilisation, EU structural funds, education, wage moderation and devaluation of the Irish punt. The industrial policy perspective has highlighted the importance of inflows of foreign direct investment, but a notable absence from the discourse on the ‘Celtic Tiger’ has been any mention of the role of new business venture creation and entrepreneurship. In this paper we use unpublished Irish VAT data for the years 1988–2004 to provide the first detailed look at national trends in business birth and death rates in Ireland over the ‘take-off’ period. We also use sub-national VAT data to shed light on spatial trends in new venture creation. Our overall conclusions are that new business formation made no detectable contribution to the acceleration of Ireland’s growth in the late 1990s, although we do find evidence of spatial convergence in per capita business stocks.

A real world project driven approach, a pilot experience in a graduate enterprise programme: ten years on

In the search for more and better ways of nurturing enterprising people and especially for developing entrepreneurs, the role of education and training is seen as absolutely essential. After reviewing major key research issues about entrepreneurship education and training implementation, we present a specific initiative built on the introduction of a new venture creation programme in higher education. Such an experimental programme allows the implementation of a cross-disciplinary area of training, which drives students to adopt an integrative and holistic approach for business venture creation and development.